Welcome to our first blog post.
I hope you have all had a chance to read the newsletter and the introduction to our new members only blog. Here is the newsletter if you have not already had time to view it.
It has certainly been a busy start to the year and this post is a quick roundup of all that has been happening in the past two months.
The first meeting of the year had a great turnout and it was wonderful to be able to view the submissions for the ‘Layers’ exhibition and talk to the creators about their works. The variety and skills shown was outstanding.
It was also a good opportunity to catch up after the Christmas break and I’m sure everyone enjoyed a very sociable afternoon.
Karen Nicoll conducted our first activity of the year ‘Creative Mending’.
This was an excellent demonstration with lots of stitching samples, resources and examples of garments Karen had repaired.
Karen discussed the best threads and techniques to use with different fabric types.
She has opened my eyes to the creative ways to extend the life of our much loved garments beyond the quick patch up job and Im sure all those lucky enough to attend will see mending in a different light.
Thank you Karen for sharing your skills and knowledge through this wonderfully presented demonstration.
At our Saturday meeting Kim Anderson and Jenny Hopkins introduced us to the ‘NCEATA Pleater’.
Did you know we had a pleating machine available in our resources?
I must admit to thinking that smocking was not for me but Kim and Jenny soon changed my mind.
They demonstrated how to thread the machine, detailing its intricacies, and how to achieve those perfect little pleats. Their presentation was very informative and spiced with humour as we were reminded just how expensive these complicated looking needles are.
Kim and Jenny bought along many samples of smocking, both traditional and modern and I think we are all now thinking about ways to bring some smocking into our creativity.
They will both be demonstrating at our Textile Tasters day so if you weren’t at the meeting, I encourage you to talk with these talented ladies and meet the NCEATA Pleater.
sIn January the ‘Layers’ exhibition was installed at Charlestown Library. It was wonderful to see all those works from our first meeting come together in an outstanding display.
The Official opening was well attended and enjoyed by all. It is a great opportunity for the artists to meet and discuss their work with a wider audience. Big shout out to Chris for his ongoing support of NCEATA events.
I hope you have enjoyed this brief look back over the past two months. I apologies now for any spelling or grammatical errors as my fellow web creator and proof reader is enjoying a holiday.
I will post again soon with a March – April update but for now must get on with my ‘dollie in the hoop’. This has shown me just how out of practice I am with hand sewing as I have managed to sew it to itself, various items of clothing and soft furnishings and even my finger. Ann Harper if you get this on time it will be a miracle
Please bear with us as we develop the blog and I sharpen my blog writing skills, its been a long time between drinks.
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